JP6783874B2 - Side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a side airbag device provided on a vehicle seat.

Airbag devices are almost standard equipment on recent vehicles. The airbag device is a safety device that operates in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and expands and deploys an airbag cushion (hereinafter, simply referred to as a cushion) by gas pressure to receive and protect an occupant.

There are various types of airbag devices depending on the installation location and application. For example, a front airbag device is provided in the center of the steering wheel to protect the driver from a collision from the front-rear direction. In addition, a curtain airbag device is installed near the ceiling above the side window and a side airbag device is installed on the side of the seat to protect the occupants from the impact from the vehicle width direction due to a side collision or the like. Has been done.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle seat provided with a side airbag device. In the technique of Patent Document 1, the folded side airbag 36 is installed inside the seat back 12 on the outside of the side frame 16A in the vehicle width direction, that is, on the side opposite to the occupant.

JP-A-2016-112927

Currently, the side airbag device is required to further improve the occupant binding force. Measures to improve the occupant binding force include, for example, setting the deployment position of the airbag cushion closer to the occupant. However, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like of Patent Document 1, the inside of the seat back is filled with a seat pad using a urethane material or the like. Therefore, the accommodation space of the airbag cushion of the side airbag device is very limited, and it is difficult to devise a method for improving the occupant binding force.

In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device that is efficiently accommodated inside a seat back and can also improve occupant binding force.

In order to solve the above problems, the configuration of the side airbag device according to the present invention is attached to the seat frame built in the seat back along the side surface of the seat back of the vehicle seat and the occupant side of the seat frame. The airbag cushion is provided with an inflator and an airbag cushion that expands and expands by receiving gas from the inflator. The airbag cushion is housed on the occupant side of the seat frame and is connected to the inflator. It is characterized by having an outer expansion portion that is continuous with the expansion portion, is housed on the side opposite to the occupant side of the seat frame, and receives gas from the inner expansion portion to expand and expand.

With the above configuration, since the airbag cushion is separately housed on the occupant side and the opposite side of the seat frame, the limited space inside the seat back can be efficiently used. Therefore, it can be applied to various vehicle seats and is highly versatile. In addition, since the installation space is small, it can contribute to the miniaturization of vehicle seats.

In addition, since the airbag cushion having the above configuration starts expansion from the inner expansion portion accommodated on the occupant side of the seat frame, a reaction force from the seat frame toward the occupant side can be obtained at an early stage. The inner expansion portion is also the base of the airbag cushion, and with the above configuration, the airbag cushion after expansion is also located closer to the occupant. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the occupant binding force can be improved.

The side airbag device may be housed in the seat back in a state where the outer expansion portion is in direct contact with the seat frame or in a state in which the outer expansion portion is indirectly in contact with the seat frame with another member sandwiched between them. According to this configuration, a reaction force can be efficiently obtained from the seat frame when the outer expansion portion expands, which can contribute to speeding up expansion and deployment and improving occupant binding force.

The airbag cushion may have a first folded portion that is folded back along the leading edge of the seat frame between the inner inflated portion and the outer inflated portion. With this configuration, the airbag cushion can be efficiently housed inside the seat back.

The outer expansion portion is the outer contact portion in a state of being in direct contact with a predetermined range from the front edge of the seat frame toward the rear of the vehicle or in a state of indirectly contacting a predetermined range with another member sandwiched between them. It may have a second folded portion that is folded toward the front of the vehicle from the rear end of the outer contact portion on the rear side of the vehicle. According to this configuration, when the gas flows into the outer expanding portion, the outer expanding portion pushes the seat frame by expanding the outer contact portion and expanding so as to eliminate the second folded portion. Therefore, the outer expansion portion can efficiently obtain the reaction force from the seat frame. Then, the outer expanding portion obtains a reaction force from the seat frame and expands and expands, which can contribute to speeding up the expansion and expansion of the entire airbag cushion and improving the occupant binding force.

The outer expansion portion has an upstream region extending from the front edge of the seat frame to the rear of the vehicle, and a downstream region accommodated between the upstream region and the seat frame and expanding by receiving gas from the upstream region. You may be doing it. Even with this configuration, the downstream region pushes the seat frame when the gas flows from the upstream region to the downstream region, so that the reaction force can be efficiently obtained from the seat frame, and the expansion and deployment speed is increased and the occupant binding force is improved. Can contribute to.

The outer expansion portion may include a wound portion. With this configuration, the outer expansion portion can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back.

The outer expansion portion may include a bellows-shaped folded portion. Even with this configuration, the outer expansion portion can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back.

The above-mentioned inner expansion portion faces the leading edge of the seat frame from the position where the inflator of the seat frame is attached, while directly contacting the seat frame or indirectly contacting the seat frame with other members sandwiched between them. The inner contact portion extending from the inner contact portion, the third folded portion folded from the front end of the inner contact portion on the front side of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle, and the inner folded portion extending from the third folded portion toward the leading edge again. You may have.

According to the above configuration, when the gas flows into the inner expansion portion, the inner contact portion expands and the inner contact portion expands so as to eliminate the third folded portion, thereby pushing the seat frame. Therefore, the inner contact portion can efficiently obtain a reaction force from the seat frame toward the occupant side. In particular, the inner expansion portion is on the upstream side of the gas flow in the airbag cushion. Therefore, with the above configuration, it is possible to obtain a reaction force toward the occupant side from the initial stage of expansion and deployment of the airbag cushion, which can contribute to speeding up the expansion and deployment of the entire airbag cushion and further improving the occupant binding force. ..

The inner expansion portion may include a wound portion. With this configuration, the inner expansion portion can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back.

The inner expansion portion may include a bellows-shaped folded portion. Even with this configuration, the inner expansion portion can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back.

In the side airbag device, the front edge of the seat frame may be rounded. With this configuration, the airbag cushion can be housed and operated inside the seat back without being damaged.

The front edge of the above seat frame may be thicker in the vehicle width direction than the region behind the front edge. This configuration also allows the airbag cushion to be housed and operated inside the seat back without damaging it.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a side airbag device that is efficiently housed inside the seat back and can also improve the occupant binding force.

It is a figure which illustrated the side airbag apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrated the cushion in the housed state of FIG. 1B from each direction. It is a figure exemplifying the process of expansion and development of the cushion of FIG. 2 (b). It is a figure exemplifying the first modification example and the second modification example of the cushion of FIG. It is a figure exemplifying the 3rd modification and the 4th modification of the cushion of FIG. It is a figure which illustrated the 5th modification example of the cushion of FIG. It is a figure which illustrated the modification of the seat frame of FIG. 3A.

100 ... Side airbag device, 102 ... Seat, 104 ... Seat back, 106 ... Seat frame, 108 ... Cushion, 110 ... Inflator, 112 ... Stud bolt, 114 ... Inner expansion part, 115 ... First folding part, 116 ... Outside Expansion part, 118 ... front edge of seat frame, 120 ... seat pad, 122 ... inner side surface of seat frame, 124 ... reaction force obtained by inner expansion part, 126 ... skin, 128 ... outer side surface of seat frame, 130 ... Reaction force obtained by the outer expansion portion, 132 ... force for eliminating the folding back of the inner expansion portion and the outer expansion portion, 136 ... cover, 140 ... cushion of the first modification, 142 ... outer expansion portion in the first modification, 143 ... Outer contact part, 144 ... 2nd folded part, 160 ... Cushion of 2nd modification, 162 ... Outer expansion part in 2nd modification, 164 ... Upstream area, 166 ... Downstream area, 180 ... Cushion of 3rd modification, 182 ... Outer expansion portion in the third modification, 200 ... Cushion in the fourth modification, 202 ... Inner expansion portion in the fourth modification, 220 ... Cushion in the fifth modification, 222 ... Inner expansion portion in the fifth modification. , 224 ... Inner folding part, 225 ... Inner contact part, 226 ... Third folded part, 230 ... Seat frame of modified example, 232 ... Front edge in modified example

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such an embodiment are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to omit duplicate description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown. To do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the side airbag device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A illustrates the side airbag device 100 and the vehicle seat (seat 102) on the left side of the vehicle to which the side airbag device 100 is applied from the inside (inside the vehicle) in the vehicle width direction. .. FIG. 1 (a) In all other drawings of the present application, arrows F (Forward) and B (Back) are in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and arrows L (Left) and R (Right) are in the left and right directions in the vehicle width direction, respectively. The directions are illustrated by arrows U (up) and D (down), respectively.

In FIG. 1A, of the seat back 104 of the seat 102, only the seat frame 106 is illustrated by omitting the skin and the seat pad (for example, urethane material). The seat frame 106 is a member that serves as a skeleton of the seat back 104, and is built in the seat back 104 along the side surface and the upper edge of the seat back 104.

The airbag cushion (cushion 108) is a bag-shaped portion that receives an occupant in an emergency such as when an impact occurs on the vehicle, and is a occupant (not shown) who receives gas from the inflator 110 and sits on the seat 102. It expands and expands into a flat shape toward the side. The cushion 108 is formed in a bag shape by stacking and sewing or adhering two base fabrics constituting the surface thereof, or by spinning using OPW (One-Piece Woven).

In the present embodiment, the cushion 108 is built in the vicinity of the side portion of the seat 102. The cushion 108 is installed on the seat frame 106 via the inflator 110. In particular, in the present embodiment, the cushion 108 and the inflator 110 are installed on the center side of the seat frame 106 in the vehicle width direction, that is, on the occupant side.

The inflator 110 is a gas generator, which operates by receiving an operation signal transmitted from the vehicle side when an impact is generated, and supplies gas to the inside of the cushion 108. The inflator 110 used in the present embodiment is of a cylinder type (cylinder type), and is installed on the rear side of the vehicle inside the cushion 108 with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. The inflator 110 is provided with a stud bolt 112 (see FIG. 2B). The stud bolt 112 penetrates the cushion 108 and is fastened to the seat frame 106.

Currently popular inflators are filled with a gas generating agent and burned to generate gas, compressed gas is filled with gas to supply gas without generating heat, or combustion. There is a hybrid type that uses both gas and compressed gas. Any type of inflator 110 can be used.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cushion 108 of FIG. 1A is stored. As illustrated in FIG. 1 (b), the airbag cushion 108 is housed inside the seat back 104 in a state of being reduced by winding or folding. In the present embodiment, the cushion is accommodated so as to sandwich the seat frame 106 so that the cushion can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back 104.

The surface of the cushion 108 in the stored state is covered with a cover 136. The cover 136 holds a state of being reduced by winding or folding the cushion 108 inside the seat back 104. The cover 136 can be realized in various forms such as a configuration in which the cover 136 is wrapped with the same material or non-woven fabric as the base cloth of the cushion 108, or a case-shaped configuration formed by containing resin or metal. Further, the cover 136 may be configured to cover the entire cushion 108, but the cushion 108 can be held even if it is configured to cover only a predetermined part range.

By providing a predetermined fragile portion on the cover 136, the cushion 108 can be released by breaking or the like when the cushion 108 expands and expands. As the fragile part, for example, when the cover 136 is made of a base cloth or a non-woven fabric, a broken line-shaped slit, a notch-shaped notch, an elongated hole-shaped slot, and a structure in which the edges of the cloth are crimped to each other are used. realizable. Further, when the cover 136 is in the form of a resin-molded case, it can also be realized by providing a thinned tear line in order to induce breakage.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the cushion 108 in the housed state of FIG. 1 (b) from each direction. FIG. 2A illustrates the seat 102 of FIG. 1B as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the cushion 108 is divided into an inner expansion portion 114 on the occupant side of the seat frame 106 and an outer expansion portion 116 on the opposite side with the seat frame 106 sandwiched therein. There is.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the cushion 108 or the like in the housed state shown in FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the inner expansion portion 114 is connected to the inflator 110 and first receives gas from the inflator 110 in the cushion 108 to expand. The outer expansion portion 116 is continuous with the inner expansion portion 114, and receives gas from the inner expansion portion 114 to expand and expand. The cushion 108 in the housed state can be incorporated in the seat back 104 in a state where the inner expansion portion 114 and the outer expansion portion 116 are formed by covering the cushion 108 with the cover 136 described above and fastening the cushion 108 to the seat frame 106.

The cushion 108 is folded back along the leading edge 118 of the seat frame 106 between the inner expanding portion 114 and the outer expanding portion 116, and the first folded portion 115 is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently accommodate the cushion 108 on both sides of the seat frame 106 inside the seat back 104.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the cushion 108 is separately housed on the occupant side and the opposite side of the seat frame 106, the inside of the seat back 104 filled with the seat pad 120 and the like is limited. Space can be used efficiently. The side airbag device 100 can be applied to various vehicle seats, from a seat having a wide space around the seat frame 106 to a seat having a narrow space, and is highly versatile. In addition, since the installation space is small, it can contribute to the miniaturization of vehicle seats.

In the side airbag device 100, the leading edge 118 of the seat frame 106 is bent so as to be rounded. As a result, the seat frame 106 has the front edge 118 in the vehicle width direction as compared with the area behind it, for example, the area extending in the front-rear direction of the seat to which the stud bolt 112 of the inflator 110 is fastened. It is thick to some extent. With the leading edge 118, the cushion 108 is not burdened when the cushion 108 is divided into the inner expansion portion 114 and the outer expansion portion 116 and when the cushion 108 expands and expands. Therefore, the cushion 108 can be efficiently housed and operated inside the seat back 104 without damaging the cushion 108.

In the side airbag device 100, by separately accommodating the inner inflating portion 114 and the outer expanding portion 116, not only can the side airbag device 100 be efficiently accommodated inside the narrow seat back 104, but also the expansion and deployment can be speeded up and the occupant binding force can be improved. Is also possible. Hereinafter, a further configuration of the side airbag device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of expansion and expansion of the cushion 108 of FIG. 2 (b). FIGS. 3 (a) illustrates the outline of the cushion 108 of the housing state. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, many parts of the outer expansion portion 116 are wound and reduced. As a result, the outer expansion portion 116 can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back 104.

FIG. 3B illustrates a state immediately after the inflator 110 of FIG. 3A is put into operation. As illustrated in FIG. 3B , when gas is supplied from the inflator 110, the inner expansion portion 114 and the outer expansion portion 116 start expansion and expansion. The force at this time breaks the cover 136 at a predetermined fragile portion and releases the cushion 108.

The cushion 108 starts expansion from the inner expansion portion 114 housed on the occupant side of the seat frame 106. At this time, the inner expansion portion 114 can push the inner side surface 122 of the seat frame 106 directly or indirectly through the cover 136 to obtain a reaction force 124. Since the inner expansion portion 114 is located upstream of the gas flow in the cushion 108, the inner expansion portion 114 allows the cushion 108 to quickly obtain a reaction force 124 from the seat frame 106 toward the occupant side. The reaction force 124 that the inner expansion portion 114 obtains from the seat frame 106 allows the cushion 108 to efficiently push away, for example, the seat pad 120 (see FIG. 2B) and the skin 126, and the cushion 108 expands and expands more quickly. Will be possible.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, in the present embodiment, the outer expansion portion 116 is in direct contact with the outer side surface 128 of the seat frame 106, or has a side surface sandwiching the cover 136 which is another member. It is housed in the seat back 104 in a state of indirectly contacting the 128. With this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the outer expansion portion 116 efficiently pushes the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 directly or indirectly through the cover 136 when expanding to obtain a reaction force 130. be able to. The cushion 108 can also be expanded and expanded more quickly by the outer expansion portion 116 obtaining the reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106.

FIG. 3C illustrates how the cushion 108 of FIG. 3A is further expanded and expanded. As described above, in the cushion 108, the reaction force 124 obtained from the seat frame 106 by the inner expansion portion 114 (see FIG. 3B), the reaction force 130 obtained from the outer expansion portion 116 from the seat frame 106, and further the inner expansion portion. The seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) is rapidly expanded from the inside to the side of the occupant by using a force 132 or the like that eliminates the first folding portion 115 between the 114 and the outer expanding portion 116. expand.

As described above, when the cushion 108 is quickly exposed from the seat back 104, the cushion 108 pushes the occupant away from the collision side of the vehicle at an early stage from the impact detection and the impact pre-detection, that is, the so-called pre. It is possible to perform the push function. According to the pre-push function, the occupant is pushed back to some extent before the entire cushion 108 expands, so that the impact when the entire cushion 108 restrains the occupant is softened and the injury value of the occupant can be suppressed. ..

The inner expansion portion 114 is provided on the occupant side of the seat frame 106, but the inner expansion portion 114 is also the base of the cushion 108. Therefore, the expanded cushion 108 is also located on the occupant side of the seat frame 106, that is, closer to the occupant. Also with this configuration, the occupant binding force of the cushion 108 can be improved.

(First modification of cushion)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example and a second modified example of the cushion 108 of FIG. FIG. 4A illustrates the cushion 140 of the first modification, corresponding to FIG. 3A. The cushion 140 is different from the cushion 108 in FIG. 3A in that the outer expansion portion 142 is reduced in size. In the following description, the components already described will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, even if the components have different reference numerals, those having the same name as the components already described shall have the same structure and function.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the outer expansion portion 142 is formed with an outer contact portion 143 that contacts a predetermined range of the side surface 128 from the leading edge 118 toward the rear of the vehicle. The outer contact portion 143 is in a state of being in direct contact with the side surface 128, or in a state of indirectly contacting the side surface 128 with the cover 136, which is another member, interposed therebetween.

The outer expansion portion 142 is also formed with a second folded portion 144. The second folded-back portion 144 is formed by folding back the outer contact portion 143 from the rear end on the rear side of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle.

FIG. 4B illustrates a state immediately after the inflator 110 of FIG. 4A is put into operation. When gas flows into the outer expansion portion 142, the outer contact portion 143 first expands, and then the second folding portion 144 expands so as to eliminate the folding, so that the remaining portion of the outer expanding portion 142 is a seat frame. It is possible to expand and deploy while obtaining a reaction force 130 by pressing the side surface 128 of the 106 more efficiently. In this way, the cushion 140 expands and expands more quickly from the inside of the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) toward the side of the occupant by providing the outer contact portion 143 and the second folded portion 144. , It is possible to contribute to the improvement of occupant binding force.

(Second modification of cushion)
FIG. 4C illustrates the cushion 160 of the second modification, corresponding to FIG. 3A. The cushion 160 also differs from the cushion 108 in FIG. 3A in that the outer expansion portion 162 is reduced in size.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the upstream region 164 of the outer expansion portion 162 extends rearward from the leading edge 118 of the seat frame 106 to the outermost side of the outer expansion portion 162 in the vehicle width direction. positioned. A wound downstream region 166 is accommodated between the upstream region 164 and the seat frame 106. The downstream region 166 is a region that receives gas from the upstream region 164 and expands, and is in direct contact with the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 or indirectly in contact with the side surface 128 with the cover 136 in between. It is contained.

FIG. 4D exemplifies a state immediately after the inflator 110 of FIG. 4A is put into operation. In the outer expansion portion 162, when the gas flows from the upstream region 164 to the downstream region 166 , the downstream region 166 expands while pushing the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 directly or indirectly through the cover 136. As a result, the outer expansion portion 162 can also press the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 more efficiently to obtain a reaction force 130. The cushion 160 can be expanded and deployed more quickly from the inside of the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) toward the side of the occupant by the upstream region 164 and the downstream region 166, which contributes to the improvement of the occupant binding force. It is possible.

(Third modification of cushion)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third modified example and a fourth modified example of the cushion 108 of FIG. FIG. 5 (a) illustrates the cushion 180 of the third modification, corresponding to FIG. 3 (a). The cushion 180 is also different from the cushion 108 in FIG. 3A in that the outer expansion portion 182 is reduced in size.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, many parts of the outer expansion portion 182 are folded in a bellows shape and reduced, and are in direct contact with the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106, or sandwich the cover 136. It is housed in an indirect contact with the side surface 128. With this configuration, the outer expansion portion 182 can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B), similarly to the wound outer expansion portion 116 of FIG. 3A. Is possible.

FIG. 5B illustrates a state immediately after the inflator 110 of FIG. 5A is put into operation. Also in the cushion 180, the outer expansion portion 182 is housed in direct or indirect contact with the outer side surface 128 of the seat frame 106, so that the outer expansion portion 182 is housed in the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 when it expands. Can be efficiently obtained as a reaction force 130 by pressing directly or indirectly through the cover 136. When the outer expansion portion 182 obtains the reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106, the cushion 180 can be expanded and deployed more quickly.

Also in the cushion 180 of FIG. 5A, the outer contact portion 143 and the second folding portion 144 of FIG. 4A can be provided in combination. By combining these second folded portions 144 and the like, the outer expanding portion 182 folded in a bellows shape can also efficiently obtain the reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106. Further, the cushion 180 may be provided with the upstream region 164 of FIG. 4C, and may accommodate a bellows-shaped folded portion at a position corresponding to the downstream region 166. Even with this configuration, the outer expansion portion 182 can efficiently obtain the reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106.

(Fourth modification of cushion)
FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a fourth modification of the cushion 108 of FIG. FIG. 5 (c) illustrates the cushion 200 of the fourth modification, corresponding to FIG. 3 (a). In the cushion 200, not only the outer expansion portion 182 but also the inner expansion portion 202 is folded in a bellows shape. The cushion 200 can be efficiently accommodated in the limited space inside the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) by including the bellows-shaped folded portion in the inner expansion portion 202.

FIG. 5D illustrates the state immediately after the inflator 110 of FIG. 5C is put into operation. As illustrated in FIG. 5D, the cushion 200 starts expanding from the inner expansion portion 202 housed on the occupant side of the seat frame 106. At this time, the inner expansion portion 202 can expand while obtaining a reaction force 124 by pushing the inner side surface 122 of the seat frame 106 directly or indirectly through the cover 136 while eliminating the bellows-like folding. .. Since the inner expansion portion 202 is located upstream of the gas flow in the cushion 200, the inner expansion portion 202 allows the cushion 200 to quickly obtain a reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106 toward the occupant side. The reaction force 130 obtained from the seat frame 106 by the inner expansion portion 202 allows the cushion 200 to efficiently push away, for example, the seat pad 120 (see FIG. 2B) and the skin 126, and the cushion 200 expands and expands more quickly. Will be possible.

In the cushion 200 of FIG. 5 (c), similarly to the cushion 180 of FIG. 5 (a), the outer contact portion 143 and the second folded portion 144 of FIG. 4 (a) may be combined, or the upstream of FIG. 4 (c). It is also possible to combine the regions 164 to accommodate a bellows-shaped folded portion at a position corresponding to the downstream region 166. Further, the inner expansion portion 202 can be provided in combination with the outer expansion portion 116 of FIG. 3A, the outer expansion portion 142 of FIG. 4A, and the outer expansion portion 162 of FIG. 4C. ..

(Fifth modification of cushion)
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fifth modification of the cushion 108 of FIG. FIG. 6 (a) illustrates the cushion 220 of the fifth modification, corresponding to FIG. 3 (a). In the cushion 220, not only the outer expansion portion 116 but also the inner expansion portion 222 is wound and accommodated. The cushion 220 also has a limited space inside the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) by including the inner expansion portion 222 with a portion reduced by winding and folding (inner folding portion 224). It can be stored efficiently.

The inner expansion portion 222 is also provided with an inner contact portion 225 and a third folded portion 226. The inner contact portion 225 is in direct contact with the side surface 122 of the seat frame 106 from the position where the inflator 110 of the seat frame 106 is attached, or indirectly with the side surface 122 sandwiching the cover 136 which is another member. It extends toward the leading edge 118 of the seat frame 106 while in contact.

The third folded-back portion 226 is formed by folding back from the front end of the inner contact portion 225 in front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle. An inner folding portion 224 is provided at the tip of the third folding portion 226, and the base cloth of the inner expanding portion 222 extends from the third folding portion 226 toward the leading edge 118 again.

According to the above configuration, when the gas flows into the inner expansion portion 222, the inner contact portion 225 first expands, and the third folding portion 226 expands so as to eliminate the folding, thereby causing the inner contact portion 225 to expand. Since the side surface 128 of the seat frame 106 is pushed directly or indirectly through the cover 136, the reaction force 130 from the seat frame 106 toward the occupant side can be efficiently obtained immediately after the start of the inflow of gas. Therefore, with the above configuration, a reaction force 124 toward the occupant side can be obtained from the initial stage of expansion and deployment of the cushion 220, which can contribute to speeding up expansion and deployment and further improving the occupant binding force.

The inner expansion portion 222 can also be provided in combination with any of the above-mentioned outer expansion portions 116, 142, 162, and 182, similarly to the inner expansion portion 202 of FIG. 5C. Further, the inner contact portion 225 and the third folded portion 226 can be provided in combination with the inner expansion portion 222 folded in the bellows shape of FIG. 5 (c).

(Modification example of seat frame)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the seat frame 106 of FIG. 3A. The seat frame 230 has a different configuration from the seat frame 106 of FIG. 3A in the shape of the leading edge 232.

The front edge 232 of the seat frame 230 is thickened in the vehicle width direction, and is chamfered 234 so as to eliminate an acute angle. That is, in the seat frame 230, the region of the leading edge 232 is chamfered 234 and the region behind it, for example, the region extending in the front-rear direction of the seat to which the stud bolt 112 of the inflator 110 is fastened. Compared to, it is thicker to some extent in the vehicle width direction. Similarly to the rounded leading edge 118 (see FIG. 3A), the leading edge 232 also accommodates the cushion 108 separately into the inner inflated portion 114 and the outer inflated portion 116, and the cushion 108 When expanding and deploying, the cushion 108 is not burdened. Therefore, the cushion 108 can be efficiently housed and operated inside the seat back 104 (see FIG. 2B) without damaging the cushion 108.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments may also be implemented by various methods. Can be carried out. Unless otherwise specified in the specification of the present application, the present invention is not limited to the shape, size, configuration arrangement, etc. of the detailed parts shown in the accompanying drawings. In addition, the expressions and terms used in the specification of the present application are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto unless otherwise specified.

Therefore, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the claims, which naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood as a thing.

The present invention can be used for a side airbag device provided on a vehicle seat.

Claims (11)

A seat frame built into the seat back along the side surface of the seat back of the vehicle seat,
The inflator attached to the occupant side of the seat frame and
An airbag cushion that receives gas from the inflator and expands and expands,
With
The airbag cushion
An inner expansion portion housed on the occupant side of the seat frame and connected to the inflator,
An outer expansion portion that is continuous with the inner expansion portion, is housed on the side of the seat frame opposite to the occupant side, and receives gas from the inner expansion portion to expand and expand.
Have,
The inner expansion portion is located upstream of the gas flow from the inflator in the airbag cushion.
The airbag cushion is capable of pressing the side surface of the seat frame on the occupant side by the inner expansion portion .
The inner expansion portion
Extends from the seat frame where the inflator is attached toward the front edge of the seat frame while in direct contact with the seat frame or indirectly with the seat frame sandwiching another member. With the inner contact part,
A third folded portion that is folded back from the front end of the inner contact portion on the front side of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle, and
An inner folding portion extending from the third folding portion toward the leading edge again,
Have,
The outer expanding portion, the side airbag apparatus characterized that you have contiguous with the inner folds of the inner inflatable portion. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the outer expansion portion is housed in the seat back in a state of being in direct contact with the seat frame or in a state of indirectly contacting the seat frame with another member sandwiched between them. The side airbag device described. The airbag cushion according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag cushion has a first folded portion that is folded back along the front edge of the seat frame between the inner expanded portion and the outer expanded portion. Side airbag device. The outer expansion portion
An outer contact portion in a state of being in direct contact with a predetermined range from the front edge of the seat frame toward the rear of the vehicle or in a state of indirectly contacting the predetermined range with another member sandwiched between the seat frames.
A second folded portion that is folded toward the front of the vehicle from the rear end of the outer contact portion on the rear side of the vehicle, and
The side airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the side airbag device is provided. The outer expansion portion includes an upstream region extending from the front edge of the seat frame to the rear of the vehicle, and a downstream region accommodated between the upstream region and the seat frame and receiving gas from the upstream region to expand. The side airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the side airbag device has a region. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer expansion portion includes a wound portion. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outer expansion portion includes a bellows-shaped folded portion. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the inner expansion portion includes a wound portion. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the inner expansion portion includes a bellows-shaped folded portion. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the front edge of the seat frame is rounded. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the seat frame has a front edge thicker in the vehicle width direction than a region behind the front edge.

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